Peak Sun Hours in Mesa, Arizona, United States
- Solar zone
- Zone 4 (excellent)
- Best month
- June (8.5)
- Worst month
- December (3.0)
- Climate
- Arid · 22.3°C
Monthly solar breakdown
| Month | GHI | Clear-sky | DNI | DHI | Temp °C | Humid % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.38 | 3.98 | 5.84 | 0.97 | 11.4 | 46 |
| Feb | 4.32 | 5.12 | 6.31 | 1.26 | 12.9 | 44 |
| Mar | 5.83 | 6.56 | 7.61 | 1.46 | 16.8 | 38 |
| Apr | 7.26 | 7.85 | 8.87 | 1.56 | 20.6 | 29 |
| May | 8.16 | 8.63 | 9.72 | 1.58 | 25.9 | 22 |
| Jun | 8.50 | 8.80 | 10.29 | 1.38 | 32.0 | 15 |
| Jul | 7.38 | 8.16 | 7.51 | 1.98 | 33.9 | 30 |
| Aug | 6.85 | 7.51 | 7.49 | 1.70 | 33.0 | 35 |
| Sep | 6.09 | 6.58 | 7.78 | 1.30 | 30.0 | 31 |
| Oct | 4.99 | 5.39 | 7.58 | 1.03 | 23.4 | 30 |
| Nov | 3.75 | 4.21 | 6.51 | 0.91 | 16.8 | 34 |
| Dec | 3.04 | 3.62 | 5.41 | 0.92 | 11.0 | 45 |
GHI, Clear-sky, DNI, DHI in kWh/m²/day. Data: NASA POWER climatology (long-term monthly averages).
Off-grid calculator
Add appliances
- Add an appliance to size a system.
Sizing
- Daily load
- 0.00 kWh
- Panel wattage
- 0 W
- Panel count (400W modules)
- 0
- Battery bank
- 0.0 kWh
Sizing against worst-month PSH of 3.04 kWh/m²/day, 0.77 system efficiency.
About solar in Mesa
Mesa, United States has a dry climate with long hours of direct sunshine and low humidity. Its annual peak sun hours average 5.8 kWh/m²/day, a excellent solar resource by global standards.
The strongest month in Mesa is June (summer) at 8.5 kWh/m²/day, and the weakest is December (winter) at 3.04 kWh/m²/day. When sizing a year-round off-grid system, it's standard practice to design against the December value rather than the annual average — otherwise the battery bank runs low during the darkest weeks.
Mesa's solar conditions are well within the range where off-grid PV is a straightforward engineering exercise with standard-sized arrays and lithium batteries.
FAQ
- What are the peak sun hours in Mesa?
- Mesa averages 5.8 peak sun hours per day annually, ranging from 3.04 in December to 8.5 in June.
- How many solar panels do I need in Mesa?
- Panel count depends on your daily load. At Mesa's annual average of 5.8 kWh/m²/day, a 5 kWh/day load needs roughly 3 × 400 W panels. Use the calculator above for your actual load.
- What size battery do I need in Mesa?
- Sizing against Mesa's worst month (December, 3.04 kWh/m²/day) with 2 days of autonomy at 80% depth of discharge, a 5 kWh/day load needs about a 12.5 kWh battery bank.
- How does Mesa's solar resource compare globally?
- Mesa sits in solar zone 4 out of 5 (where 5 is strongest) at 5.8 kWh/m²/day — excellent by global standards. For reference, top-tier desert sites average ~6.5 and high-latitude cities around 2.5 kWh/m²/day.
- How often should I clean solar panels in Mesa?
- Arid climates can drop output 10–20% between cleanings. Quarterly cleaning is typical for Mesa; monthly during dust-storm seasons. Dew alone isn't enough when rainfall is infrequent.
- Does extreme heat hurt solar output in Mesa?
- Yes. Panel efficiency drops ~0.4% per °C above 25 °C cell temperature. In Mesa, midday cell temperatures of 55–70 °C can derate output 12–18% below nameplate.
- Is Mesa's solar resource as strong as the numbers suggest?
- Mesa's 5.8 kWh/m²/day is excellent globally. But heat derating and dust accumulation mean real-world yields typically land 10–15% below this headline figure — factor that into sizing.